CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Last year the NCAA granted Phillip Sims a transfer waiver allowing him to go from Alabama to Virginia without sitting out a year. Now, he’s leaving Virginia for academic reasons.

In a release Friday, UVA head coach Mike London explained the situation.

“The thing we tell the young men who come to the University of Virginia to receive a world-class education and play for our football program is pretty simple,” said London. “Go to class. Show class and treat people with dignity and respect. Those directions are pretty easy to follow and they will lead you on a path of success.

“When an individual strays from those directions, it is very disappointing to me. Phillip Sims did not make the commitment he needed to succeed here. I appreciate his efforts last season. He is a very talented young man who is blessed with some extraordinary athletic abilities. I still believe Phillip Sims can and will be a successful person. We will do what we can to assist Phillip in continuing his academic and athletic opportunities elsewhere.”

Sims came to Alabama from the Virginia beach area as a part of the 2010 recruiting class and redshirted during the 2010 season before losing out to AJ McCarron in the battle to start the 2011 season.

This past season at Virginia Sims saw time in every Virginia game and made 4 starts. He went 132-231 on pass attempts for 1,426 yards and 9 TD’s.